Noho's Hawaiian Cafe

05/23/07

Great food but not cheep

by captainron14

They have great Hawaiian food but I was turned off by the prices.

It was like a tourist being gouged at one of those fake luaus you go to the first time you go to Hawaii.

There are much more better places in town with a better value for your buck.

Staff was friendly. Service was good.

With all of the great Hawaiin Restaurants in the area, this was OK overall.

Those who are gushing over this place must not get out much. Just like the tourist who visits Hawaii and stays at Waikiki, has a great time, but goes nowhere else. Then thinks thats all there is to Hawaii. Boy are they wrong! There is much more. Just like there are much better Hawaiin Restaurants.

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Price, Value

04/02/09

What Happened??

by orrechs

This used to be my favorite casual restaurant in Portland. 1. The macaroni salad was the best on the planet. 2. Their entrees were always the freshest, best quality. 3. With three different portion sizes you were sure to get a great value (not cheap, but a good value).

Is it a sign of the times that in order to cut costs, restaurants are forced to sacrifice quality, decrease portion sizes and omit special spices? Well, then, NoHo's seems to have followed this rule.

I have been visiting this establishment for 10 years--and have always ordered the same menu item (their #13). Recently, I have been to NoHo's 4 times in the last 2 months. And today's visit will probably be my last. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but no longer--4 chances is my limit. My takeout order was completely wrong (and I live over 30 miles away so going back was not an option), the portion sizes were 75% of their usual (the large size used to come with 2 mac salads and 3 rice. mine had 1 mac salad and 2 rice and the entree should have been called Hot and Spicy Onions), and the chicken had a funky smell and taste. And there was absolutely no spice whatsoever! It's like I received the wrong order, but since my other entree was correct (just overcooked and made with the lowest quality beef I have ever had--picture beef jerky), I knew they didn't give me the wrong order; it was just incorrect. I cannot continue to spend my hard earned money at a place that I cannot count on. This is a very sad day.

I don't know what has happened--new owner, new cook, new management, new business plan?? Someone made a bad decision, and in today's economy I think this bad decision is going to cost NoHo's their business.

NoHo's used to be consistently great. Now, they are consistently horrid.

Like I said, a very sad day indeed!

• Pros: Nothing. Absolutely Nothing!
• Cons: Everything! And I Do Mean Everything!

10/27/08

Worse food ever in Portland

by LeilaniK99

So this is my first review on a restaurant - but I've been working in restaurants for years as a server. I've never felt compelled to write one, but I feel like I should warn you! My friend and I both have 3 month old babies.. so we figure, it'd be better if they scream outside than in this little restaurant and ruin everyones lunch, I asked to sit outside, and all our server said was "I'm not serving outside" Short and Rude.... Alright, so we sat inside. We sat there for probably 15 minutes before she came back to give us water... meanwhile she's dropping off food at the table next to us. They sat there for 5-7 minutes w/out any silverware and had to ask her for it!! So we get out waters, ...then have to ask to order our lunch. My friend asks how the macaroni salad is, and this girl just looked at her.......then says there's macaroni in it. Holy $&*^!! Really?? She takes our order, the food came up quick, which was great, and the food was good. Not really impressed w/ the bowl of iceberg lettuce that they call a salad, but everything else was good. I'm hoping that the owner or a manager reads this and realizes that they've gotta get rid of this girl. She was the only server there, short dark hair, we went in at about 1pm on Mon. Aug. 19 ......and she's wasn't just short and rude to us.. the place is small enough to hear what's going on at other tables too. One woman asked for a to-go cup for her iced tea.. and all the server said was "no cups" WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD..... EVER. If I go back, it will be for take-out. The one star rating is for the service......I'd give a negative rating to her if I could... But I'd give the guys in the kitchen 4.

• Pros: nothing
• Cons: rude and bad food

09/20/08

To the unhappy Bride

by BSchroeder

I was the Bartender at your beautiful wedding. I am sorry there was a lack of communication during 8 months.

But I understand Noho met with you personally on site and went over plans and details. He then writes up all

that was planned, he even called me excited about the details. It is ludicrous to think in the middle of the

busy wedding season that you would be checked on weekly. You were very organized and you had a Wedding

Planner who as we understood should have checked on and taken care of your wishes. As it was your guest

count was down to about 50-60 people but you had beverages for at least 300 . Your reception was only three

hours long because of the darkness and we brought 14 bags of ice. Your Wedding Planner should have gone for ice and also been on top of anything missing, because these things happen. You had him, myself and 3 on site caterers all wanting your day to go well. Any one of us could have ran back for the missing food. Some communication on your end would have been nice. You should be compensated

for the missing food but you have affected all of us by writing a bad check to Noho and it is against the Law

09/14/08

Yummy

by tibbyhime

Good food, good prices. Highly recommend the kahlua pork and korean chicken. Definitely a good spot to go and pick up lunch for a nice change of pace from your typical teriyaki shop fare.

08/23/08

Went the Extra Mile for my Daughter

by jessli

I went to Noho for the first time this week with my sister, who loves the place, my mother and my 3 year old daughter. We opted to sit outside so I missed on the atmosphere inside BUT the waitress, a soft spoken gal who was very attentive, brought my daughter a half glass of juice telling me that because the drinks have free refills she thought the little one would prefer it. I only ordered food for adults thinking we'd share with my daughter but the waitress brought her a little bowl of white rice with lightly flavored shredded chicken. I was so touched that she paid such attention to the "joys" of taking a child out to a resteraunt.

The waitress also giggled with us through the pronunciation of the sizes of the meals letting us know that the menehue was probably ample and that blahah may be too large unless we wanted left overs...

I loved it and it sits on a cute corner of Clinton and 26th so we enjoyed the foot traffic around us and the shops nearby.

• Pros: kid friendly attentive staff EXCELLENT food
• Cons: large servings are a bit spendier

08/19/08

Worse server I've ever had in Portland

by Beckaa

So this is my first review on a restaurant - but I've been working in restaurants for years as a server. I've never felt compelled to write one, but I feel like I should warn you! My friend and I both have 3 month old babies.. so we figure, it'd be better if they scream outside than in this little restaurant and ruin everyones lunch, I asked to sit outside, and all our server said was "I'm not serving outside" Short and Rude....

Alright, so we sat inside. We sat there for probably 15 minutes before she came back to give us water... meanwhile she's dropping off food at the table next to us. They sat there for 5-7 minutes w/out any silverware and had to ask her for it!! So we get out waters, ...then have to ask to order our lunch. My friend asks how the macaroni salad is, and this girl just looked at her.......then says there's macaroni in it. Holy $&*^!! Really?? She takes our order, the food came up quick, which was great, and the food was good. Not really impressed w/ the bowl of iceberg lettuce that they call a salad, but everything else was good. I'm hoping that the owner or a manager reads this and realizes that they've gotta get rid of this girl. She was the only server there, short dark hair, we went in at about 1pm on Mon. Aug. 19 ......and she's wasn't just short and rude to us.. the place is small enough to hear what's going on at other tables too. One woman asked for a to-go cup for her iced tea.. and all the server said was "no cups"

WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD..... EVER. If I go back, it will be for take-out.

The one star rating is for the service......I'd give a negative rating to her if I could... But I'd give the guys in the kitchen 4.

08/13/08

Hey Portland: try this place!

by peex

Aside from the excellent food, I would come here simply for the fact that I am SO impressed with the customer service I recently experienced. After a not-so-great experience with an employee at the Cedar Hills location (who is longer there) I called to express my concern to management. When I called I spoke to Noho himself who more than compensated me for my meal. I honestly felt that he was glad I called.

Seriously, delicious food (try the Ono or Korean chicken), great guest service and a local business (I think!). Please try this place out. You will be giving your business to a genuine person and establishment.

• Pros: delicious food, great guest service, good value
• Cons: usually busy during lunch rush

07/23/08

GARBAGE GARBAGE GRABAGE

by LETSGOSEPDX

GARBAGE GARBAGE GRABAGE

Way over priced. Food was horrible, fatty, salty and greasy. The service was the worst! You would think we are used to bad service with the amount of hipster servers in that area. I had to ask 10 times to get water so I could choke down their food. I normally give a place 2 chances. First time was at a wedding they catered. After hearing the nightmare story they went though with Noho?s I would never recommend them to anyone. Now after eating the GARBAGE they call food I will never return to that dump again. Did I mention how dirty the place is?!?!

• Pros: never had to wait for a table because no one eats there they know better.
• Cons: everything about this place is a con!

10/24/07

If I only could go to 1 restaurant, this would be the one!

by ellepdx

I have to admit, it's tempting to keep quiet about Noho's fantastic food. After all, who wants the whole world at your favorite restaurant?..........But, I'll squelch my selfishness to tell you that Noho's has the BEST chicken. I always order the same thing - the Ono Chicken. It's so good it practically melts in your mouth.=========================== The seating is pretty tight at the Clinton Street location, so don't expect a private dining experience --- just expect great food & fast service.

• Pros: The FOOD!
• Cons: Not a lot of room at the tables, or in between tables

08/09/07

Satisfy the Meat Craving

by notyeti

This is where I go when i want grilled meat. I love the spicy Korean chicken - and the spicy Korean ribs. I also like the Teriyaki Beef. If you are really hungry, order the Yakisoba noodles. The portions are quite large. If I want to finish it all, I order the smallest size "menehune". If i want to take some home, i order the regular size. They do have vegetables here too, but you have to like your vegetables very much on the crunchy side. IMaybe it's healthier that way, but I like my broccoli cooked a little more.